Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 80: Another Strange Senior

Aren stepped out of the glass doors of Harmonia Talent Management and paused on the sidewalk for a moment. The noise of the district washed over him, restless as everyone talked about a single thing.

Miu had stayed behind with her manager and production staff to continue preparing for the performance.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket and dialed Daniel again. The call barely rang twice before it connected.

"Already miss me, Junior?" Daniel’s voice came through lazily.

"I need your help with something," Aren said, starting down the street.

"Yeah, I figured as much. That meeting go well?"

"Depends on your definition of well."

Daniel chuckled. "That bad?"

"They confirmed it," Aren said quietly. "There’s equipment installed beneath the stage. Supposedly something to stabilize Miu’s voice so another incident like the Lorianne Festival doesn’t happen."

Daniel went silent for a second.

"...And you don’t believe that."

"No," Aren replied.

He crossed the street as the light changed, dodging a couple of excited pedestrians on their way to buy Miu’s merch.

"Head of the Guards of Argent Shield confirmed that the equipment is from a partnered company," Aren continued, "And I’m willing to bet it’s that same one you found."

Daniel exhaled slowly on the other end of the line.

"Yeah...in that case, that’s definitely not harmless sound equipment."

"That’s the problem," Aren continued. "I don’t actually know what the machine does. I saw it briefly backstage yesterday, but that was it."

"So you want someone to analyze it."

"Exactly," Aren replied. "You know anybody who specializes in mystic tech?"

There was a pause before Daniel laughed softly. "Actually... yeah. I know exactly the person."

Aren raised an eyebrow as he continued walking.

"You’re serious?"

"Relax, Junior. She’s also part of the Urban Hunting Club. Just a year ahead of you."

"Enrolled in both Research and Mystic College too, I might add." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

That caught Aren’s attention.

"A dual enrollment Mystic?"

"Line Three too," Daniel added casually. "The genius type."

Aren slowed his steps slightly.

"Name?"

"Emily Carter."

Daniel sounded almost amused as he continued.

"She specializes in mystic technology. If there’s anyone who can figure out what kind of machine you’re dealing with, it’s her."

Aren considered it for a moment before nodding to himself.

"Set up a meeting."

"Already did."

"What?"

Daniel laughed again.

"Junior, I figured you’d end up calling about something like this. We’re already at a café a few blocks from you."

"You really enjoy being smug, don’t you?" Aren sighed, but he couldn’t help the curve that was forming on his lips.

Daniel really was somehow kind of reliable.

A moment later, Aren was already walking down the street, toward the address that Daniel had sent. He spotted the café at the corner of the street.

The place was busy, filled mostly with college students and office workers grabbing late morning drinks. Through the large glass window, he immediately spotted Daniel sitting at a table near the back.

And someone else.

A young woman sat across from him, calmly stirring a cup of coffee. She wore a beret and thin-framed glasses, looking bored as she listened to Daniel yap about something.

When Aren stepped inside, Daniel spotted him first and raised a hand.

"Over here."

Aren walked over and pulled out the empty chair. Daniel leaned back in his seat with a grin.

"Junior, meet Emily Carter."

The girl looked up...Well, she really did, as she was almost half of Daniel’s size and barely reached up to Aren’s shoulder.

"So you’re Aren Cross," she said as she pushed up her glasses slightly.

Aren tilted his head slightly.

"You know me?"

Emily nodded once.

"Who doesn’t? You’re practically considered the Lightning Department’s Rep at this point."

"Well, according to Professor Sterling," Daniel added sheepishly.

That sounds...annoying. But bridges were already burnt, so there was no point dwelling on it.

He pulled out the empty chair and sat down.

"I actually needed to talk to you," Aren said as he looked directly at Emily.

She didn’t seem surprised. If anything, she looked mildly curious, folding her hands neatly around her coffee cup.

"Daniel mentioned something about that," she replied calmly.

Aren nodded.

"I need your help with something."

Daniel leaned back in his seat, clearly enjoying the situation more than he should.

Emily didn’t answer right away. Instead, she studied Aren for a moment, her eyes quietly assessing him the same way a researcher might observe a new specimen.

"What kind of help?" she asked.

"There’s some kind of device installed beneath the stage of the Imperial Auditorium," Aren explained.

"Argent Shield had it installed yesterday. During the meeting this morning they claimed it was meant to stabilize soundwaves so Miu’s voice doesn’t cause another incident like the Lorianne Festival."

Aren leaned forward slightly.

"The security around that place is insane. At least a hundred guards. Argent Shield everywhere. And the company supplying the equipment is partnered with a research firm studying Bloodline mutations."

Emily’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Aetherion Research."

Aren blinked.

"You already know them?"

"I’m in Mystic Technology research," she replied simply. "Their papers come up sometimes."

She tapped a finger lightly against the table. "They’re obsessed with unstable Bloodlines."

Daniel let out a low whistle.

"Well, that doesn’t sound ominous at all."

Emily ignored him. "So what exactly do you want from me?"

Aren leaned back in his chair. "I need someone who understands mystic technology."

"To analyze a device you haven’t seen properly," her eyebrows lifted slightly at the comment.

"Exactly."

Daniel grinned slightly. "Here it comes."

Emily looked between the two of them.

"What are you planning?"

"My plan was," Aren began. "During the concert, Daniel causes a commotion to draw away the guards."

Emily’s eyes sharpened slightly as she followed the logic.

"And while they’re distracted..."

"I slip inside," Aren finished.

Daniel tilted his head.

"Junior here already saw roughly where the machine is yesterday."

Aren nodded.

"I get close enough to examine the device and send you whatever information you need to determine what that machine does."

Emily leaned back slightly in her chair, her gaze drifting downward as she thought. After a moment, she sat upright and leaned forward once more, a small grin appearing on her face.

"So...what’s in it for me?"